Review: Alex (Cold Fury Hockey #1) – Sawyer Bennett

Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the rink. Pushed into the sport by an alcoholic father, Alex isn’t afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn’t so amused. Now Alex has a choice: fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy . . . not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves.

As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who’s been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team’s effort to clean up his image. What she doesn’t expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn’t one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn’t do relationships . . . or does he? The more she sees behind Alex’s bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.

*I received a free ARC of Alex from Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*

Ice-hockey, romance, a hard-as nail player and a sweet and tender social worker make Alex a hot and awesome read!

My Alex review:

When I met my husband, he, like Alex, played professional ice-hockey. And I, like Sutton had no real idea of the game. I quickly adapted though, and now, I’m a huge fan. Reading the story about Alex and Sutton really rang true to me, there’s a lot of pressure on athletes, not only while they actually play, but also outside. At the beginning, though, I wasn’t sure if I’d like the MC at all, he really acted like a total asshat, especially the way he treated women, even if he was honest up front about what he could and could not or would not offer to a relationship.

Seeing Alex and Sutton get to know each other, and how they were able to relate to each other even while he was doing his best to be off-putting and a little aloof was awesome. I really enjoyed reading about the hockey, too, the interactions between the different players on the team, the female groupies only wanting to be able to say they were with a hockey-player, and the fans was all very well done.

Once I read more about Alex and understood why he was acting the way he was, and the reason he didn’t truly love hockey anymore it was much easier to get him, too. And I couldn’t help but think he could be a truly great guy. Sutton had such a way with him – and the people she was helping at work – that she charmed me from the very beginning.

Quite fast-paced, and dealing with a lot more than ice-hockey or romance, Alex appealed to me on several levels. Sutton’s work was hard, trying to help teens in bad situations due to drugs always makes my heart ache, and she really did a lot to help, too. Her reasons were evident, but she could have made her own life a lot harder and rather be the way Alex was.

Written in dual points of view, the story managed to me involved and invested in both the main characters, even in first person present tense. I was drawn in from the start, and enjoyed myself the whole time – through the good times and the bad. If you are looking for a different kind of contemporary story, and you enjoy your heroes sporty and hot, your heroines strong and full of heart, Alex is the book for you!

Some of my favorite Alex quotes:

And what the fuck? When did I start noticing shit like that about women? I’m a tits-and-ass man. Although, apparently I’m now an eyes, hair and voice man too.

While I have to wear professional clothes during the day, I like getting by with touches of crazy that can’t be seen while I’m in counselor mode. So that means unconventionally colored nail polish and naughty lingerie, neither of which is seen by anyone but me at the current time. Not that I mind.

I read back over the texts two more times, my mouth involuntarily pulling upward in a smile. I can just imagine her throwing her hat at the TV to celbrate my hat trick. Hilarious.

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

Subscribe to Blog via Email